Abstract

Awareness and Opinions about Hepatitis B among Secondary School Teachers in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria

The role of secondary school teachers in creating awareness and causing behavioral changes among students that will prevent the spread of Hepatitis B through the provision of accurate information on its causes, modes of transmission and prevention cannot be overemphasized. It is against this background that this study sought to assess the knowledge and opinions of secondary school teachers in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria about Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Descriptive survey design was adapted to sample 150 teachers. The overall mean knowledge score on facts, mode of transmission, and prevention of HBV infection for all the respondents were 4.6 out of 8, 8.7 out of 17 and 4.7 out of 8 respectively. Television (54%), radio (44%), newspaper (42%) and friends (39%) was the main sources of information on HBV infection, while least utilized source of information was internet (23%), church/ mosque (21%), tertiary institution (21%) and library/ librarian (18%). The factors militating against the teaching of Hepatitis B to students as identified were teacher’s inadequate knowledge, lack of formal training, lack of teaching aids, teachers poor motivation and HBV infection not being part of school subject’s curriculum. Recommendation that hepatitis B as well as other trending health issue should be introduced into teacher educational programs and those teachers themselves should take advantage of the vast collection of information available in the interest to improve their knowledge on HBV infection and general health was given.